Traffic signal for highways



Sept. 17, 1929. T. M. MATTHEWS TRAFFIC SIGNAL FOR HIGHWAYS v Filed April26, 1928 2 Sneets-Sheet TMMaZZfie/w P 1929- IT. M. MATTHEWS 1,728,687

I TRAFFIC SiGNAL FOR HIGHWAYS I Filed April 26, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M.W v 5 u .I, W// W W L y 3% I?! u fi mm a I W M 7 9 mm 0 w z m I i. m 7.Iv u m 00 1 wo mm 1 y 1 1/ mm 7 f 9 r 6 m, A 7mm m u 3 u Patented Sept.17, 1929 UNITED STATES,

PATENT 1 THoMAS M. MATTHEWS, or TALLAHASSEE, FLonInA, AsSIqiqoR ToMATTHE S AUTO; A

MATIC TRAFFIC CONTROL 00., or TALLA A S E, F oRInA,,A,coRroR TIoNnoI'FLORIDA TRAFFIC SIGNAL Iron HIGHwAYsfI Application filed April 26, 1928.Serial 110,273,010, 1

The invention relates to means for signal ing traflic on highways andparticularly to means for stopping or Slowing of vehlcular traflic atintersecting roads or crossroads,

and railroad crossings, and has for Its object the provision of atrailic signal that is operated by the approaching vehicle andcomprising pivoted platforms mounted over a pit in the highway that arearranged for simultaneous actuation by means of arms secured to theplatforms and pivotally connected together, the adjacent free ends ofthe platforms being spaced and providingha plate arranged between thefree ends of t e platforms for pivotal movement and connected formovement with the platforms, the

plate when the platforms are in a depressed position forming a bridgeconnecting the platforms, and when in a non-bridging position inclinedupwardly above the platform and serving as a signal. The plate isprovided with a weighted arm that normally holds it in raised position,moving to such position when the platforms are relieved of the weight ofthe vehicle, the connection between the plate and the platforms also returning the platforms to a normally upwardly and inwardly inclinedposition.

The invention will be described in detail hereinafter and will be foundillustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a centrallongitudinal sectional view of the improved trafiic signal showing it insignaling position.

Figure 2 is a top plan view showing the platforms and bridging plate inlowered positions,

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view on a plane indicated by the line33 of Figure 1,

.Figure 4 is a fragmental detail view of the signal means on thebridging plate, and

Figure 5 is a sectional view on a plane indicated by the line 55 ofFigure 1.

In the drawings similar reference characters are used to designatecorresponding parts in all the views.

The traffic signal is designed to be installed .in a vehicular highwaysuch as indicated at A and overa pit 13 formed in the highway, and hastwo oppositely arranged platforms 1 and 2 hinged "as shown at 3 and 4respectively at the opposite ends of the pit B. Secured to the un ersideof the platform 1 are arms 5 that areconnected to the platform 1 bymeans of struts 6. -88- cured to the under side of the platform 2 arearms 7' that are connected to and support the platform 2by means ofstruts '8;

Arms 5 are extended beyond thefree end of the platform 1 and when theplatforms land 2 are in normal position as shown in full lines in'Figure1 thefree ends of the arms 5 underliethe free ends ofthe arms 7;"Thefree ends of nected bylinks 9; A p c Ten' indicatesa roller-that ismounted in arms 5 and 7 are cona race 11 in'the upper side of each arm5ladjacent to its free end that engages a recess 12 in the'unde'r side ofmating arms 7 and serves'as a bumper and bearing for said arms whenengaged as shown in full lines in Figure 1. The rollerlO is held inposi-, tion by means of a'link 13J'14 indicates a" plate that ishingedly mounted as shown at 15 intermediate ofj-the free ends of theplatforms 1 and 2 and" is connected for opera,

tion with the platforms by means of links 16 pivotallyengagingthe underside of the plate 14' as shown at17 and pivotally con nected withthearms 5 as shown at18. Se cured to the plate 14 is an arm 19" to whichis secured the weight 20"andthat normally tends to hold the plate 14and'the platforms 1 and Q'inthe position shown in Figure'lf infull'lines WVhen either of the platforms 1 or 2 is depressed by" theweight'of a vehicle, the platforms will be lowered into the positionshown inf broken lines in Figure 1 and simultaneously therewith theplate 14 will be moved into the, position shown to traffic that there isa dangerous crossing ahead and to proceed slowly, the apparatus beingadapted to be so placed as to give the required signal to traffic forinstance at highway cross roads.

Secured to the rear, orunder side of the plate 14: is an inclined la te23 on which is the directional signal top as indicatedat 24 and aplurality of bulls eyes 25, also made of reflecting material andsuitably colored, it being apparent that where traific isto be stopped,as for instance at a railroad crossing or at a side road toa"thoroughfare; I

the apparatus will be placed that the traffic will be compelled to runon the platform 1 and brought to a standstill by the 2 1 and t l l la ll iin .3 1,11 I,combin'atior1with a roadway having a pit therein,"platforms hingedly secured at opposite; nds of the pit and having theiradjacent ends spaeed, arms secured to said platforms and having theiradjacent ends oyfe'rlapping, links connecting the overlapping vends ofsaid arms, a plate pivotally mounted between the free ends of the plat,

forms means connecting said plate and arms to move the platesimultaneously with the platforms, the platforms being depressiblesbythe ,weight of vehiclesthereon and the plate movable to bridgethelspace between the platforms when depressed, and a weighted arm onthe plate normally holding it in no bridging position and the platformsin upwardly inclined positions. 7

2 In combination with a ro-adwayhaving a pittlrerein, platformspiyotally supported atop posite "ends of said pit and having their freends spaced, said platfonns being nor-,

mally upwardly inclined toward each other and adapted to be depressed bythe weight ofa vehicle on eitherplatform, downwardly inclined arms onthe platforms. and having thelr ends overlapping, links connecting theoverlapped endsof the arms, aplate pivotally rnounted between the freeends of the arms; normally in an upwardly inclined position and movablewith the platforms when to bridge the space between the platforms, Linksconnecting the platform to thearmsto actuate the platesimultaneouslywith the p l atforms and a weighted armvon the -plate and normallyholding the plate and platforms raised'positions.

In testimony whereof I afhx my signature. V q w THOMAS M. MATTHEWS.

